Talk:Tom Simpson

Category:Drug related deaths
I'm inclined to add the article to the above-named category. Objections? Matt Gies 03:08, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

Inconsistent article
The lead says no trace of amphetamine in his body. Further down the article it says "It confirmed five days later that Simpson had traces of amphetamine in his body." 212.247.86.210 (talk) 14:10, 23 November 2009 (UTC)

Opening text
The opening text seems to mention only his profession and death, surely it should also say he was the most successful UK cyclist, was World Road Race Champion, the first UK cyclist to fully integrate into the continental racing scene etc? Compare the opening text here and the article on Marco Pantani. 109.154.46.201 (talk) 16:08, 17 February 2011 (UTC)‎

Is it right to say he was "until the success of Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour de France, the most successful English road racing cyclist of the post-war years"? They both won very big, but different, races. I don't think one can say winning the Tour de France and the time trial at the Olympics makes one more succesfull than winning the road world championship, Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders and Tour of Lombardy. Just to name a few races they won. 77.169.218.39 (talk) 20:59, 7 January 2013‎ (UTC)

Death section too long
So many quotes from 3rd parties and their detailed explanations make the section confusing and uninteresting to an average reader. It should be more straightforward. The section on the death of River Phoenix can be taken as an example. Sub40Hz (talk) 19:35, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

1959 Giro di Lombardia
I'm not sure what happen to Simpson at the 1959 Giro di Lombardia (Tour of Lombardy). This is what I've found:


 * Museo del Ciclismo – "Eleven brave (including Simpson, forced as soon as possible, however, the yield from a puncture) attack shortly before Varese and between the general disinterest you install at the head of the race." (Not in the results)
 * Mr Tom: True Story of Tom Simpson, p 84 – "...although he finished the race, his riding was rather subdued."
 * Cycling is My Life, p 74 – "...took part in the Tour of Lombardy and the Trophy Barrachi for the first time in Italy. In the latter...".

He doesn't appear in any results online. Thoughts? BaldBoris 18:28, 7 June 2013 (UTC)


 * Here's a link to the article the day after the race from La Stampa (in italian). I don't know if it mentions Simpson or not. La Stamp article. I was trying to check the L'Unita article for that day, but I couldn't reach the archive page for some reason. Disc Wheel  ( Malk  +  Montributions )  01:50, 10 June 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks for that. It mentions him, but not if he retired or finshed. "In Cittiglio, the advantage of the avant-garde - from which disappeared Simpson for drilling - already exceeds the per minute and is of the 45" at the foot of the hill that leads to Grantola." The 19 October edition of L'Unita says "There is no peace. The stampede is continuous. On the forefront of the race, now illuminated by the sun, rise Simpson, Casati, Fallarini, Anglade, Saint, Gismondi, Sorgeloos, Pambianco, Rolland, Bisilliat, Grncrych. The patrol loses Simpson, betrayed by a flat tire, and passes from Cittiglio with 1'25" lead." He is missing from the L'ordine d'arrivo. So from this I gather he punctured and retired. This makes me wonder what else in Mr Tom: True Story of Tom Simpson (written by Simpson's nephew) is wrong. In the palmares section of the book I found some results that differ to ones online. I don't know who to believe any more. BaldBoris 16:10, 11 June 2013 (UTC)


 * I'd just make sure that you double check with a newspaper source to make sure all of what he says is accurate. Disc Wheel  ( Malk  +  Montributions )  19:36, 11 June 2013 (UTC)

Autobiography
I've added a mention of David Millar's introduction to the reissue of Simpson's autobiography, published in 2009. Should we mention the original publication in 1966 somewhere in the article though? It seems worthy of mention to me. Cordless Larry (talk) 12:51, 31 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Good idea, I've added to the personal life section. BaldBoris 22:24, 4 June 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks, BaldBoris. Cordless Larry (talk) 06:59, 5 June 2015 (UTC)

"fearful" descender
During the FAC, commented on the leading sentence in the Riding style and legacy section with ''A "fearful" descender? It sounds from the description as though he was fearless.'' My response was that it was printed as that in the book. I reverted an IP edit since, which changed it to fearless. I'm slightly concerned about this as it looks to be going on the main page in a few weeks. I've actually thought about contacting the author to get confirmation. What shall I do? BaldBoris 16:03, 19 August 2015 (UTC)
 * You could leave a hidden note in the edit text explaining that "fearful" is the word used in the source. In my view it's poor wording by the author – "fearless" or "fearsome" would be far better. Brianboulton (talk) 20:43, 19 August 2015 (UTC)
 * The thing is, the author (William Fotheringham) is quoting someone else. Your suggestion solves the problem of it being corrected, but not the real problem. I just feel it's confusing to the reader. Is there a some way of rewording it without the quote? Here's the source . BaldBoris 21:21, 19 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Just paraphrase "fearful descender" as "fearsome in descent" without the quotes. It's pretty obvious that's what the source intended. Brianboulton (talk) 21:46, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

Temperature in the race
"The temperature reportedly reached as high as 54 °C (129 °F) during the stage."

How is this possible, when the highest recorded temperature in history in France is 44.1°C? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weather_records — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.138.123.23 (talk • contribs) 08:26, 29 June 2016‎ (UTC)
 * Nevertheless, the Telegraph newspaper reporting on Simpson's death in 1967 stated that the temperature that day was 54C. The book Faster, Higher, Stronger states the temperature was over 100[F] that day.  The Cycling Bible says the temperature when Simpson died on Mont Ventoux was 49C.  From looking at "List of weather records", it is a List of official record temperatures.  I would assume that the temperatures taken on Mont Ventoux that day were not taken with perfectly calibrated instruments, but rather temperature gauges owned by the public at large.  So that is how it is possible. Shearonink (talk) 07:27, 30 June 2016 (UTC)
 * The first of those sources refers to the temperature "on the road" and the third to the "surface temperature", which I imagine were significantly higher than the air temperature, which is what the highest recorded temperature would refer to. Cordless Larry (talk) 07:42, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

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